Oral Health

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Published on Wednesday, 27 June 2018 13:26

The oral health crisis in the United States is a silent epidemic. Oral disease is the number one childhood disease; it is 5 times more common than asthma. Oral disease is progressive and becomes complex if not treated. Oral disease can be prevented! Education is key to reducing to oral disease epidemic in Missouri.

ORAL HEALTH MATTERS

Need a reason to brush and floss? A healthy mouth may help you fight off overall health problems. An unhealthy mouth, expecially if you have gum disease, may increase your risk of serious health problems. It is important for you to understand the importance of oral health - it affects your overall health.

AFFECTS ON ADULTS

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Low birth weight premature babies

AFFECTS ON CHILDREN

• Pain
• Lack of desire to eat and malnutrition
• Inability to learn and develop properly
• Lower self-esteem

NUTRITION AND EATING RIGHT

• Provide your child a healthy diet
• Limit soda and sweets
• Avoid sticky foods
• Provide healthy snacks from a variety of food groups

PRENATAL

Did you know a mother's teeth and gums' health could affect her baby's health?

Women with severe gum disease have 7 times the risk of delivering a premature and/or low birth weight baby. What can you do?

• Visit your dentist.
• Tell your dentist you are pregnant so your oral health can be monitored.
• Brush at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and floss daily.
• Repair decayed teeth and treat gum disease.
• Drink plenty of water and eat nutrition meals and snacks.

WHY ARE BABY TEETH IMPORTANT?

BABY TEETH:

• Guide permanent teeth into place
• Help your child speak clearly
• Aid in jaw and face formation
• Chew nutritious food
• Promote overall health
• Build self-esteem

WHEN WILL MY CHILD'S TEETH COME IN?

Primary teeth start coming in around six month of age, and all 20 primary teeth are usually in by age 2 or 3 years. When babies are teething, let them chew on something cool like a clean cold cloth or a teething ring.

SIGNS OF TEETHING:

• Sore gums
• More drooling
• Fussy and irritable

BACTERIA

Bacteria can be passed from person to person. To reduce the risk of bacteria transfer:

• Parents should practice good oral hygiene
• Parents should avoid sharing eating utensils with a child
• Parents should not put a pacifier in their mouth before giving it to a child. This does not clean the pacifier!

5 WAYS TO PREVENT EARLY CHILDHOOD CAVITIES

1. IT'S NOT THE BOTTLE, IT'S THE BEVERAGE - Don't allow your child to fall asleep with a bottle or sip cup filled with anything but water. As long as your infant is taking the bottle or nursing, wipe the gums and teeth after each feeding.
2. LIMIT SUGARY DRINKS BETWEEN MEALS - Around age 1, wean your child from the bottle and teach drinking from a regular cup. Make milk and juice available at meal and snack time only, so a child isn't 'sipping' on these throughout the day. Give your child water in between meals and snacks.
3. PROVIDE BETTER NUTRITION CHOICES - It's not just what children drink, but what they eat! Many popular snacks, such as fruit roll-ups and gummy fruit snacks, get stuck in and between tooth surfaces, making teeth harder to clean.
4. CRATE GOOD ORAL HYGIENE HABITS - After feeding clean your baby's gums with a damp washcloth or gauze. As soon as baby teeth appear, begin brushing teeth gently with a soft child-size toothbrush and water or training toothpaste (one that does not containe fluoride until they can spit). Brush your child's teeth at least twice daily, especially before bedtime.
5. SET A GOOD EXAMPLE - Children will imitate what they see. That's why it's important for parents to make oral hygiene a priority. Brush and floss teeth daily and schedule regular dental visits for you and your child.

DENTAL DECAY IS PREVENTABLE

• Never let your child go to bed with a bottle.
• Brush your child's teeth daily, especially before bed.
• Use a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste, once your child can spit.
• Help children brush their own teeth.
• To develop good brushing habits, brush at the same time every day.
• Start gentle flossing when two of your child's teeth begin to touch.
• Check child's teeth monthly for changes.
• Replace the toothbrush when your child has strop throat, recurring sore throats, or when bristles are warn.
• Set a good example by practicing good oral hygiene.
• Visit the dentist regularly beginning at age one.

CHECKING A CHILD'S TEETH

Use one of these positions to look at teeth

• Get in a position where you can see inside the child's mouth, especially the back of the teeth.
• Two suggestions include sitting on the floor with the child in your lap (above left), or sitting knee-to-knee with a partner (above right), with the child across both laps.
• These positions work well because an adult can hold the child's hands if necessary for better cooperation.
• Gently lower child's head into your lap.
• Lift the lip and quickly assess child's oral condition.

FLUORIDE

• Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps prevent tooth decay.
• Fluoride is like any other nutrient; it is safe and effective when used appropriately.
• Community water fluoridation is a great way and inexpensive way to prevent tooth decay.
• Children should brush daily with a toothpaste containing fluoride, once they can spit.

FLUORIDE VARNISH

Fluoride varnish is a decay fighter that can be used to help prevent or stop tooth decay. Fluoride varnish is a thick liquid that is painted on the teeth with a small brush. An all over application takes only a few minutes. Fluoride varnish is safe, effective and easy to apply. The varnish dries on the teeth immediately.

LEARN MORE

For more information go to www.mocoh.org

This is a project of the Missouri Coalition for Oral Health

Funding for this project was provided in whole by the Missouri Foundation for Health. The Missouri Foundation for Health is a philanthropic organization whose vision is to improve the health of the people in the communities it serves.

Special Thanks: Missouri Foundation for Health, Missouri Dental Association, University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Dentistry, Missouri Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

Holiday Food Safety Tips

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Published on Thursday, 07 December 2017 08:29

To Eat or Not to Eat: Decorative Products on Foods Can Be Unsafe

Baking fancy cookies and cakes for the holidays? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants you to know that some glitters and dusts promoted for use in foods may, in fact, contain materials that should not be eaten.

Food Safety Tips for the Holidays

Feasting with family and friends is part of many holiday celebrations. Follow these simple tips to keep safe from food poisoning, or foodborne illness, during the holidays.

Everyone can practice food safety during the holidays

• Wash your hands. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water before and after preparing food, after touching raw meat, raw eggs, or unwashed vegetables, and before eating or drinking.
• Cook food thoroughly. Meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs can carry germs that cause food poisoning. Use a food thermometer to ensure these foods have been cooked to the safe minimum internal temperature. Roasts, chops, steaks and fresh ham should rest for 3 minutes after removing from the oven or grill.
• Keep food out of the "danger zone" . Bacteria can grow rapidly at room temperature. After food is cooked, keep hot food hot and cold food cold. Refrigerate or freeze any perishable food within 2 hours. The temperature in your refrigerator should be set at or below 40°F and the freezer at or below 0°F.
• Use pasteurized eggs for dishes containing raw eggs. Salmonella and other harmful germs can live on both the outside and inside of normal-looking eggs. Many holiday favorites contain raw eggs, including eggnog, tiramisu, hollandaise sauce, and Caesar dressing. Always use pasteurized eggs when making these and other foods made with raw eggs.
• Do not eat dough or batter. Dough and batter made with flour or eggs can contain harmful germs, such as E. coli and Salmonella. Do not taste or eat unpasteurized dough or batter of any kind, including those for cookies, cakes, pies, biscuits, pancakes, tortillas, pizza, or crafts. Do not let children taste raw dough or batter or play with dough at home or in restaurants.
• Keep foods separated. Keep meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs separate from all other foods at the grocery and in the refrigerator. Prevent juices from meat, poultry, and seafood from dripping or leaking onto other foods by keeping them in containers or sealed plastic bags. Store eggs in their original carton in the main compartment of the refrigerator.
• Safely thaw your turkey. Thaw turkey  in the refrigerator, in a sink of cold water that is changed every 30 minutes, or in the microwave. Avoid thawing foods on the counter. A turkey must thaw at a safe temperature to prevent harmful germs from growing rapidly.

Pregnancy and Food

While everyone wants to keep food safe during the holidays, it is especially important for pregnant women to do so because they are at increased risk of food poisoning.

• Avoid raw or unpasteurized milk and products made with it, such as soft cheeses. Raw or unpasteurized milk and products made with it can contain harmful germs, including Listeria. Avoid drinking raw milk and eating soft cheeses, such as queso fresco, Brie, Camembert, feta, goat cheese, or Roquefort, if they are made from raw or unpasteurized milk. Do not eat or drink other raw or unpasteurized products, such as juice or cider.
• Be careful with seafood. Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood unless it is in a cooked dish, such as a casserole, or unless it is canned or shelf-stable.
• Be aware of holiday beverages. To reduce the possibility of fetal alcohol syndrome, watch out for alcohol-containing holiday punches and eggnogs. Avoid eggnog entirely unless you know it contains no alcohol and is pasteurized or made with pasteurized eggs and milk.

Newsletter

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Published on Thursday, 30 November 2017 09:26

Andrew County Health  Department 

February Health News

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Safe Haven

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Published on Thursday, 25 May 2017 12:37

No One Ever Has To Abandon A Newborn

You have a safe choice. The Safe Haven law allows you to anonymously and permanently give up your baby within 45 days of birth, free of judgment or legal prosecution. Bring it to a staff member at a Safe Haven location instead.

Local Locations:

• Andrew County Ambulance Police Stations
• Andrew County Sheriff
• Savannah Police
• State Police
• Country Club Village Police

Fire Stations

• Bolckow Fire Station
• Cosby-Helena Fire Station
• Fillmore Fire Station
• Rosendale Fire Station
• Savannah Fire Station (#1, #2, or #3)
• King City Fire Station
• Union Star Fire Station